A councillor who opposed the construction of a town centre tower block beset by faults weeks after being built says the problems are “most upsetting”.

Councillor Joyce Nickolay was vice-chairman of Harrow Council’s planning committee when it rejected plans to build the nine-storey Neptune Point development in Pinner Road in June 2008.

But construction went ahead when independent planning inspector Richard Thomas overturned the council’s decision and gave permission to Parkridge Developments build the block, to the anger of
councillors and residents’ group Campaign for a Better Harrow Environment.

Earlier this week, the Harrow Times reported how the flats have become “a nightmare” for tenants who have started moving into the apartments, with broken lifts, key fobs, windows and doors
causing problems despite the block being brand new.

Cllr Nickolay said: “It is most unfortunate that the residents are experiencing so many problems in a brand new building.

“We had concerns regarding the bulk of the development, as well as what we felt was poor design – specifically long corridors and a lack of sunlight in many of the apartments.

“With all the problems residents have been suffering, these design issues with the building will only add to feelings of insecurity and frustration. It must be most upsetting for them.”

Housing association Metropolitan, which manages the apartments, has cleaned stairwells and fixed a broken lift after the Harrow Times intervened, and will hold a clear-the-air meeting with
tenants on Monday evening.

They had become desperate after dozens of complaints to both Metropolitan and construction firm Ardmore went unanswered, leaving parents with buggies to climb eight flights of stairs to reach their
flat for six weeks.

Comments (1)

If the tennants had any sense, they'd carry out a protest blocking deliveries to the part of the site still under development. They'd find then the developer only too willing to put the defects right!

If the tennants had any sense, they'd carry out a protest blocking deliveries to the part of the site still under development. They'd find then the developer only too willing to put the defects right!Meldrewreborn